Tingsha / Hand Cymbals
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The silvery, soothing, rich sound of Tingsha instantly strike an echo within
the heart. Their purpose is to summon, therefore Tingsha call us to
awareness, to remember who we are, and to recognise our priorities in the
world. The Tingsha draw their name from the Tibetan syllables "ting"
(ringing sound of metal) and "sha" (hanging), and their meaning can be
translated as "hanging cymbals".

How Tingsha are made
The Tingsha are individually handcrafted by the ancient Tibetan method of
sand-casting, where an upper and lower mould are made from fine wet sand
which is then baked several times over a charcoal fire. When the moulds are
ready, the molten bell metal is poured. After casting, each individual
Tingsha is skillfully tuned by hammering around the thick outer rim to create
a perfectly matching pitch for each pair.

The bell metal used in the Tingsha is made of a pure bronze alloy of copper
and tin , with a white metal component of zinc and nickel.

How to play the Tingsha
There are three main techniques for striking the Tingsha to create a
sustained sound. The leather thong is hold between fingers and thumb just
above the centre of each cymbal.

- Suspend the Tingsha horizontally, a few inches apart, then draw them together so that their edges strike.

- Suspend one Tingsha horizontally while holding the downward-striking Tingsha vertically in the opposite hand.

- Hold both Tingsha vertically, at right angles, and strike edges together with a simultaneous movement of both hands.

As hanging chimes, the Tingsha may be suspended by their leather thong from
two hooks and struck with a wooden striker. The paired Tingsha may also be
separated to create two individual cymbals, with a striker attached to each
end of the divided leather thong.

Tingsha Uses
Traditionally, Tingsha are used in guidance prayers and food offerings for
the dead; in burned foods and water offerings for the "hungry ghosts" or
tormented spirits; in burned food offerings for the "four classes of
guests". These rituals are performed by Tibetan monks, and they can be
repeated daily, or as a cycle of a hundred thousand offerings.

Used in meditation, when Tingsha (cymbals) strike each other they produce a
clear, pure sound. This indicates the beginning and the end - at the
beginning you let go of everything except the clean moment of here and now;
at the end you awaken physically and spiritually in the here and now of
material reality.

We have a good selection of Tingsha. As choosing cymbals is down to personal
preference, we have included sound files with each tingshas.
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"Lotus Tingsha bells / hand cymbals"

These Lotus Tingsha bells (hand cymbals) are engraved with one of the best
known and most often used mantras of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddha of
Compassion, 'om mani padre hum'. The mantra is translated as 'Hail of the
Jewel in the Heart of the Lotus' and its sound is supposed to ring
throughout the universe, telling of the victorious power of freedom that is
to save all beings.

The syllable 'om' stands for the body, spirit and speech of the Buddha,
'mani' for the path of teaching, 'padme' for the wisdom of the path, and
'hum' points to the union of wisdom and the path to it.

The undersides of the Tingsha are inscribed in each of the four cardinal
directions with the three sacred Tibetan syllables Om A Hum. The three
syllables are engraved in an anticlockwise sequence, and they represent the
three aspects of enlightened body (Om), speech (A) and mind (Hum). These
correspond to the spiritual concept of purity in deed (body), word (speech)
and thought (mind).

These divine bodies correspond to the three 'intermediary states' of the
death experience and to the three 'everyday states' of waking, dream and
deep sleep.

The Tingsha are approx 3” in diameter and they produce a lovely, clear sound.

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Astamangalas Tingsha bells / hand cymbals

The inscription on these Astamangala Tingsha bells (hand cymbals) shows the
8 Symbols of Happiness, also known as the Auspicious Symbols.

- A white parasol
- A golden treasure vase
- A pair of golden fishes
- A lotus
- A victory banner
- A white conch shell that spirals towards the right
- An endless knot or 'lucky diagram'
- A golden wheel

In the Buddhist tradition, the eight Auspicious symbols represent the
offerings presented to Shakyamuni Buddha upon his attainment of
enlightenment. They symbolise the 'Eightfold Noble Path' that leads to the
cessation of sufferings and enlightenment. This path consist of:

In Sanskrit, these symbols are known as Ashtamangala, and in Tibetan as the
Tashi-targey. In the Indian Buddhist tradition they were later deified into
a group of eight offering goddesses, known as Astamangala Devi, each of whom
carried one of the auspicious symbols as an attribute.

The Tingsha are approx 3” in diameter and they produce a lovely, clear sound.

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Dragon Tingsha bells/ hand cymbals

These Tingsha bells (hand cymbals) are decorated with etched dragons. The
dragon embodies strength, goodness and the spirit of change or
transformation Good to use when masculine (yang) energy is required for
clearing and balancing.

The undersides of the Tingsha are inscribed in each of the four cardinal
directions with the three sacred Tibetan syllables Om A Hum. The three
syllables are engraved in an anticlockwise sequence, and they represent the
three aspects of enlightened body (Om), speech (A) and mind (Hum). These
correspond to the spiritual concept of purity in deed (body), word (speech)
and thought (mind).

The syllables also represent the three 'divine bodies of a Buddha':
- The physical 'form or emanation body'
- The visionary 'enjoyment body'
- The pure empty 'truth or djharma body'.
These divine bodies correspond to the three 'intermediary states' of the
death experience and to the three 'everyday states' of waking, dream and
deep sleep.

The Tingsha are approx 3” in diameter and they produce a lovely, clear sound.

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6 Symbols Tingsha bells / hand cymbals

These Lotus Tingsha bells (hand cymbals) are engraved with six mantra
symbols.

The syllable 'om' stands for the body, spirit and speech of the Buddha,
'mani' for the path of teaching, 'padme' for the wisdom of the path, and
'hum' points to the union of wisdom and the path to it.

The undersides of the Tingsha are inscribed in each of the four cardinal
directions with the three sacred Tibetan syllables Om A Hum. The three
syllables are engraved in an anticlockwise sequence, and they represent the
three aspects of enlightened body (Om), speech (A) and mind (Hum). These
correspond to the spiritual concept of purity in deed (body), word (speech)
and thought (mind).

The syllables also represent the three 'divine bodies of a Buddha':
- The physical 'form or emanation body'
- The visionary 'enjoyment body'
- The pure empty 'truth or djharma body'.

These divine bodies correspond to the three 'intermediary states' of the
death experience and to the three 'everyday states' of waking, dream and
deep sleep.

The Tingsha are approx 3” in diameter and they produce a lovely, clear sound.

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Plain Faced Tingsha bells / hand cymbals

These plain faced Tingsha bells have the purest tone and longest sustain of
any of the Tingsha available. They have the look, weight and feel of the
antique Tingsha. Unbelievable sound quality!

The Tingsha are approx 3” in diameter and they produce a lovely, clear sound

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